RESPONSE OF THE CELLULAR IMMUNE-SYSTEM TO CARDIOPULMONARY BYPASS IS INDEPENDENT OF THE APPLIED PUMP TYPE AND OF THE USE OF HEPARIN-COATED SURFACES

Background: Cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) is associated with an activat ion of leukocytes. The extent of this activation was thought to depend on the applied CPB-circuit set-up. The present study comparatively ev aluated the effect of roller pump, centrifugal pump, and uncoated and heparin-coated surfaces. Methods: 73 patients were included, randomly assigned to 3 groups, In group A a roller pump was used, in group B a centrifugal pump, and in group C a centrifugal pump together with Carm eda(TM) heparin-coated surfaces. The quantitative (cell count) and the qualitative changes of leukocyte populations (subpopulations and expr ession of the CD126-, HLA-DR-, CD45 RO-, CD71 antigens) was comparativ ely analysed before, during, and following CPB. Results: Groups A and B did not differ in leukocyte counts and the differences between group s B and C were restricted to single time points, Neither groups A and B, nor groups B and C differed significantly in the relative distribut ion of lymphocyte subpopulations or in the percentage of CD126(+), HLA -DR+, CD45 RO+ and CD71(+) leukocyte subpopulations. Conclusions: CPB affects the cellular immune system; however, this effect seems to be a physiological reaction, independent of the applied CPB circuit system .